Youth Recommendations EU

2026-07-22

"The European Union represents everyday reality for the young generation: mobility, funding programmes, academic and professional opportunities in other member states, and family and friendships beyond borders. However, it is often perceived as a distant institution. Nonetheless, the willingness of the young generation to actively engage with European issues is high. According to the post-electoral Eurobarometer survey from 2019, young citizens under 25 years (+14 %) as well as 25–39-year-olds (+12 %) turned out in greater numbers than in 2014. Therefore, it is important to involve this generation in shaping and discussing the EU through further activities. The Cohesion Policy and the future Interreg/territorial cooperation can demonstrate how the EU promotes regional developments at the local level which are relevant for civil society projects of the younger generation. Awareness among them needs to be strengthened: EU programmes are not ""only"" for them, but they can also shape the programmes. We aim to understand and gather the ideas and expectations of the young generation through targeted social media activities and a forum. We seek to enhance awareness of a democratic, equal, and inclusive EU by giving the young generation a voice and the opportunity to articulate their expectations. We have previous experience organising events specifically targeted at young people and a range of social media campaigns. Additionally, we have several large networks throughout the region with whom we can reach young people. By leveraging existing partnerships, we will maximize the project's impact and reach. Beyond the immediate consultation process, our project aims to have a lasting impact on European policymaking. By amplifying youth voices and perspectives, we hope to contribute to the development of more inclusive, equitable, and effective territorial cooperation policies for the future."

Austria

2025-11-01